What are Pokémon Card Rarities?
All Pokémon cards are marked with a rarity symbol that relates to the likelihood of that type of card being pulled from a Pokémon Booster Pack.
Traditionally, there were just 3 types of Pokémon cards – Common cards, marked with a single black circle, Uncommon cards, marked with a black diamond and Rare cards identified by a small star ★ at the bottom, next to the unique card number. There were very few Rare cards in early expansion sets but numbers gradually increased over time to include Non Holo Rare cards, Holo Rare cards, Ultra Rare cards and Secret Rare cards, all of which were marked with a single small star ★
In 2023, with the release of the Scarlet and Violet series, a number of new Rarity categories and symbols were introduced and Non-Holo Rare cards were discontinued. This was done to bring international cards into line with their Japanese counterparts and also to make it easier to identify the different types of Pokémon Rare cards. It also means that from 2023 onwards all Rare card types are holographic.
In 2025, the release of the Mega Evolution series saw further additional rarities introduced, with new symbols for identification.
Contents
Non-Holo Rare
Holo Rare Cards
Amazing Rare Cards
Ultra Rare Holo Cards
Secret Rare Cards
Gold / Hyper Rare / Mega Hyper Rare Cards
Illustration Rare Cards
Special Illustration Rare Cards
Mega Attack Rare Cards
Non-Holo Rare Cards 1999-2023
Non-Holo cards are non-holographic half-art cards that made up a small percentage of the total cards for each expansion set until they were withdrawn in March 2023, following the release of Scarlet and Violet series. They were found in booster packs that had no shiny or holographic cards.
The Vivillon card pictured is an example of a Non-Holo rare card from the Battle Styles expansion set which released in the Spring of 2021. These cards look identical to Uncommon and Common cards but are identified by a single black star ★ next to the card number. They generally depict fully evolved Pokémon and are typically Stage 2 but can sometimes depict Stage 1 Pokémon if that is the final evolution.
Holo Rare Cards 1999-Present
Holo Rare cards are identical to Regular Rare cards except that the image is holographic. They are identified by a single black star ★ next to the card number. The image above depicts Zoroark from the Shrouded Fable expansion set which released in August 2024.
Over the years a variety of different holographic patterns have been used for these cards with some being more popular than others. Some of the most popular include – Cosmos Holo, Mirror Holo, Confetti Holo and Cracked Ice.
Amazing Rare Cards 2020-2021
Amazing rare cards were first introduced with the release of the Sword and Shield Vivid Voltage expansion set in November 2020. The Zacian card depicted above shows the unique artwork that feature on these cards. The holographic image has a glittery effect which extends beyond the artwork frame. Amazing Rare cards are marked by the letter A 
printed on a multi-coloured glitter background.
The Pokémon depicted on Amazing Rare cards are all legendary or mythical and they all have a unique Amazing ability. However they do have ‘Amazing’ abilities e.g. Raikou has ‘Amazing Shot’ which inflicts 120 damage.
Only nine Amazing Rare cards have been released to date. Six were included in the Vivid Voltage set and a further three in the Shining Fates expansion of 2021.
Ultra Rare Cards 2011-Present
Pokémon Ultra Rare cards first appeared with the release of the Black and White series in April 2011. Two Ultra Rare cards were included in the Black and White Base Set – Reshiram 113/114 (depicted above) which is a full art white card, and Zekrom, a full art black card.
Up to 2023, Ultra Rare cards made up the last numbers in the regular set of cards and came just before the Secret Rare cards. Ultra Rare cards are full art cards that typically feature the set mascot(s) as other Pokémon, Trainers or Items.
In 2023 Ultra Rare Cards changed from being the last numbers of the regular set to bearing numbers higher than the set number, in effect taking the place of Secret Rare cards along with Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare and Gold Hyper Rare cards (see below). The rarity symbol for Ultra Rare Cards changed from a single black star to two white stars.
Secret Rare Cards 2000-2023
Secret Rare cards are cards that are additional to the set they are included in. They have a card number that is higher than the set number making them easy to distinguish.
These cards were launched with the Team Rocket expansion in April 2000. Just one secret rare card was included in that set – Dark Raichu with a card number 83/82. This card featured holographic artwork and was able to use a special Surprise Thunder ability.
The Black and White Base set, which released in 2011, was the first to feature full art cards and from that set onwards secret rare cards have always been full art.
Over the years, the artwork of secret rare cards has become more stunning including textured patterns in the holographic image.
Secret Rainbow Rare Cards 2017-2023
Secret Rainbow rare cards were first introduced with the Sun and Moon series in February 2017 and continued through the Sword and Shield series. They are holographic cards easily identified by their rainbow colouration. Over the years they were released they became more detailed moving from a flat shiny surface to a textured surface that shimmers in the light.
The card shown above features Umbreon GX from the Sun and Moon Base Set which released in 2017.
Gold Secret Rare / Hyper Rare / Mega Hyper Rare Cards 2017-Present
Although gold-coloured full art cards did appear in earlier sets, the first Gold Secret Rare Cards were released with the Sun and Moon Series in 2017. They generally form the very last cards of a set with card numbers higher than the set number and following Ultra Rare and Secret Rare cards. They were identified by a single star after the card number. Gold Secret Rare cards continued through the Sun and Moon and Sword and Shield series. The card shown above is Nest Ball from the Sun and Moon Base Set of 2017.
In 2023, with the release of the Scarlet and Violet Series, Gold Secret Rare cards were re-named Hyper Rare Holo Cards and given a rarity symbol of three gold stars. From this period onwards, Gold cards featured a textured etched surface that shines in light. These cards were discontinued in 2025.
The release of the Mega Evolution base set in late 2025 saw the introduction of Gold Mega Hyper Rare cards. These cards have retained the gold colouration of their predecessors but are now completely gold with no other colouration. They are identified by a new diamond shaped rarity symbol 
. The card above depicts Mega Charizard Y from the Ascended Heroes expansion set of January 2026.
Illustration Rare Cards 2023-Present
Pokémon Illustration Rare cards were first introduced in 2023 with the launch of the Scarlet and Violet series. Illustration Rare cards follow the main set cards and have numbers just above the set number. Illustration Rare cards depict unevolved or evolved Pokémon without any special mechanic.
They are Full Art cards indicated by a single single gold star ★ that follows the card number. The card above depicts Ludicolo from the Phantasmal Flames expansion set.
Special Illustration Rare Cards 2023-Present
Special Illustration Rare cards were first introduced in 2023 with the release of the Scarlet and Violet series. Special Illustration Rare cards follow Ultra Rare cards and have card numbers higher than the set number. These cards typically depict Pokémon with special mechanics such as ex as well as Trainers and Pokémon Items. They are identified with two gold stars after the card number ★★.
Special Illustration cards feature stunning artwork and are often the most sought after and valuable cards in a set. The Gengar ex card featured above is from the Ascended Heroes expansion and is currently worth upwards of £600 / $700.
Mega Attack Rare Cards 2026-Present
Mega Attack Rare cards were first introduced in the Mega Evolution series Ascended Heroes expansion set which released in January 2026. These cards feature Mega-Evolved Pokémon that have unique abilities. Mega Attack Rare cards follow Ultra Rare cards in the set and come before Special Illustration Rare cards. Their card number is always higher than the set number. They are identified by a symbol comprised of a pink and green star ★★.
Mega Attack Rare cards have stunning artwork and include Japanese text across the image. The Mega Dragonite ex card depicted above is from the Ascended Heroes set.
